NAT reports strong financials, acquires a new tanker, and maintains commitment to dividends amid positive market outlook.
Quiver AI Summary
Nordic American Tankers Ltd. (NAT) announced positive developments in their operations and financial performance in a press release dated February 28, 2025. The company reported a net voyage revenue of $225 million and a net result of $46.6 million for the full year 2024, alongside a solid average time charter equivalent rate of $26,416 per day per ship in the fourth quarter. As part of their ongoing strategy to enhance growth, NAT has agreed to purchase a 2016-built suezmax tanker for a price in the mid/high $60 million range, and has successfully sold a 2003-built tanker for $23 million, boosting their financial flexibility. NAT remains committed to paying dividends, with a fourth-quarter payout of $0.06 per share, marking their 110th consecutive quarterly distribution. Additionally, the company has secured a $150 million financing agreement and plans to exercise purchase options on two lease-financed vessels. With regulatory changes increasing demand for compliant shipping, NAT is optimistic about its prospects for 2025.
Potential Positives
- Purchase of a 2016-built suezmax tanker is expected to enhance earnings and dividend capacity, demonstrating strategic growth.
- 110th consecutive quarterly cash dividend declaration of $0.06 per share indicates financial stability and commitment to returning value to shareholders.
- Seven vessels are debt-free after a new $150 million financing agreement, providing greater financial flexibility for the company.
- Optimism for increased transportation work due to new regulatory pressures on sanctioned oil trades aligns with the company's fully compliant operations.
Potential Negatives
- The company faces potential challenges due to increased pressure on sanctioned oil trades and vessels, which could impact future operations despite current optimistic projections.
- The reliance on forward-looking statements and the cautionary note indicates uncertainty in achieving future financial goals, which may concern shareholders and investors.
- Despite achieving a net result of $46.6 million for 2024, the relatively low dividend of $0.06 per share might not be enough to satisfy investors seeking higher returns.
FAQ
What is NAT's primary objective regarding dividends?
NAT's primary objective is to maintain dividends, even while pursuing profitable growth and fleet adjustments.
When will the next dividend be paid to shareholders?
The next dividend of 6 cents per share will be payable on March 24, 2025, to shareholders on record by March 10, 2025.
How much did NAT achieve in net voyage revenue for 2024?
NAT achieved a net voyage revenue of $225 million for the full year 2024.
What significant acquisition has NAT made recently?
NAT has agreed to purchase a 2016-built suezmax tanker, which will enhance earnings and dividend capacity.
How is NAT ensuring compliance with recent regulatory pressures?
NAT has not transported Russian oil in the past 3.5 years, ensuring compliance with regulations and increasing optimism for 2025.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$NAT Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 113 institutional investors add shares of $NAT stock to their portfolio, and 103 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- ALLSPRING GLOBAL INVESTMENTS HOLDINGS, LLC removed 3,283,065 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2024, for an estimated $8,207,662
- CITADEL ADVISORS LLC added 3,001,376 shares (+607566.0%) to their portfolio in Q4 2024, for an estimated $7,503,440
- NUVEEN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC removed 1,291,537 shares (-71.1%) from their portfolio in Q4 2024, for an estimated $3,228,842
- GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC removed 947,119 shares (-18.9%) from their portfolio in Q4 2024, for an estimated $2,367,797
- BRIDGEWAY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC added 828,717 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q4 2024, for an estimated $2,071,792
- PREVAIL INNOVATIVE WEALTH ADVISORS, LLC removed 777,711 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q3 2024, for an estimated $2,854,199
- UBS GROUP AG added 647,088 shares (+132.9%) to their portfolio in Q4 2024, for an estimated $1,617,720
To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.
Full Release
Friday, February 28, 2025
Dear Shareholders and Investors,
Ninety day periods offer a short-term snapshot of a company, but it is more instructive to look at the bigger, longer-term picture. The direction of NAT is unquestionably upwards as we create room for profitable growth. Whatever we do, dividends remain our primary objective.
As part of our plan to buy a few ships and sell a few ships, we have since the end of 2024 agreed to purchase one 2016-built suezmax tanker from a first class owner. The vessel will be delivered to NAT during the second quarter of this year. The price is in the mid/high 60’s. The new unit will provide additional earnings and dividend capacity to NAT. We expect the vessel to be financed with cash and lease financing.
As previously advised, we have sold one of our 2003-built suezmax tankers and the vessel was delivered to its new owners earlier this week. The proceeds from this sale ($23 mill) will also enhance our financial flexibility.
Highlights:
- NAT achieved a net voyage revenue for the full year 2024 of $225 million and a net result of $46.6 million. The average time charter equivalent (TCE) for our fleet (spot & TC vessels) during the fourth quarter of 2024 came in at $26,416 per day per ship, leaving NAT with a solid operating margin as running costs per vessel are about $9,000 per day.
- The dividend for the fourth quarter is 6 cents ($0.06) per share. This is our 110th consecutive quarterly cash dividend declaration. The dividend is payable March 24, 2025, to shareholder on record as of March 10, 2025.
- The new administration in the White House is increasing the pressure on sanctioned oil trades and sanctioned vessels. This is one reason why we are optimistic about prospects for 2025, as there will be more transportation work for NAT, a fully compliant company in all respects. NAT has not transported Russian oil the last 3.5 years.
- Following the new and improved $150 million financing agreement with Beal Bank, seven of our vessels are not encumbered and are debt free, thus providing us with greater financial flexibility.
- In addition, we have exercised the purchase option for two of our 2018-built vessels that are lease-financed through Ocean Yield, one of our two well-established financial partners. The vessels will be transferred to us during the third quarter this year. The market value of these vessels is well in excess of the outstanding loan which gives us extra maneuverability.
- Thanks to careful voyage planning and adjustment of speed, we continue to reduce emissions of our vessels.
- Each ship in the NAT fleet is in excellent technical condition, as proven by the vetting performance.
Sincerely,
Herbjorn Hansson
Founder, Chairman & CEO
Nordic American Tankers Ltd. www.nat.bm
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.
The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “potential,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,” “pending” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market, as a result of changes in OPEC’s petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the prospectus and related prospectus supplement, our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and our reports on Form 6-K.
Contacts:
Bjørn Giæver, CFO
Nordic American Tankers Ltd
Tel: +1 888 755 8391
Alexander Kihle, Finance Manager
Nordic American Tankers Ltd
Tel: +47 91 724 171
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